Which Russell Martin will the Yankees get?
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Jan 18, 2011 
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If you take a look at Russell Martin’s career statistics, you’ll very quickly notice that he’s essentially been two players in five years. From 2006-08, he was a stud – Rookie of the Year candidate, two-time All-Star, productive hitter. Then, over the past two seasons, he suddenly became a below-average player – lower slash line, regressing production and, finally, season-ending injury.
The Yankees, obviously, are hoping they’ll get something closer to the old Martin now that he’s going to be their everyday catcher, and Martin – in an interview with a Canadian paper – recently offered a sort of vague explanation for his struggles. The problem, Martin said, was that he was going through some “personal issues” that were distractions for him.
Now, since Martin wouldn’t specify what those issues were (or even give any kind of general category – family health, for example), it’s hard to know how legitimate an explanation that is. And, as we see here, there is at least one writer in Los Angeles (Martin’s former home) who is skeptical about Martin so simply explaining away his lack of production for the Dodgers.
Now, to be fair, we don’t know exactly what type of “personal issue” Martin is talking about. But as the L.A. writer said, there sure can be a lot of distractions in New York, too.
There are no guarantees but I like the signing.
Low risk high reward.
I’m an optimist. I think Martin is gonna be more like the earlier version than the later one.
And we can sure use the added defense he provides.
I think he gives them good defense, but don’t see much reason to expect a lot offensively. Either way, he’s not going to be an automatic out up there. Probably still author a .350 or so OBP. If he can do that and squeeze out a .400 slugging %age, the team should count itself lucky.
the good news with martin is if he fails, the montero era will likely begin. win win.
If the Red Sox signed him, people would be going on and on with what a “great signing” it was and, “why can’t Cashman be as creative as Theo” posts would fill this blog.
If healthy and focused, the guy is an all star caliber catcher. Not many of those are on the market.
Hopefully, he can begin the second half of his career in fine form in NY.
I think that Russ Martin and Carlos Pena will go down as the two best FA signings of this winter.
That guest poster was brilliant this morning!
SJ44–
Exactly! A great signing.I expect good things from him…He can even steal 15-20 bases!
Honestly…this guy will put up roughly the same numbers as Posada at this point…you can take that anyway you want..
Very funny G. Love
You did a good job; your post was well written and funny.
G. Love January 18th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
That guest poster was brilliant this morning!
++++++++++++++
So far—you’re the only one who liked him.
I swear if Posada started this year behind the plate I was going to jump out of the first base stands and steal 2nd myself….it was only going to get uglier.
Honestly…this guy will put up roughly the same numbers as Posada at this point…you can take that anyway you want..
___
Better defense
guy could kick the ball the 2nd base and it would have qualified as better defense at this point…it was time for a change
If Martin bounces back then at 27 the Yankees either have another possibilty for their longterm catching situation or a very valuable trade chip….either way it would be very nice.
From the weird but true dept:
In his contract with the Nats CM Wang earns 50k if he wins the Silver Slugger award
CMW should remember that running the bases started this whole mess his career has become.
Blake absolutely agree…only upside with this deal given the alternatives
Age is on his side and hopefully the hip problem is history. No lack of support from his new teammates.
Chip January 18th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
From the weird but true dept:
In his contract with the Nats CM Wang earns 50k if he wins the Silver Slugger award
—-
He must have one helluva manager!
G.Love-
And I even heard somehwere that the poster likes to play bocce, BBQ’s alot, and like to throw parties.
But won’t invite people from out West unless they can crash it.
I swear if Posada started this year behind the plate I was going to jump out of the first base stands and steal 2nd myself?.it was only going to get uglier.
———
LOL LOL LOL i agree !! BX12
G. Love….Why isn’t your handle J. Love?
anyway, If that was you. Well written.
I read somewhere that Martin is getting back to basics in his workout routine, and his going to focus on what made him successful in the past.
That plus working with K long should definitely help.
Wang’s not the only one – Jayson Stark has a list of strange contract clauses – JC Romero (who hasn’t had an at bat since 2007) has the same clause and Adam Dunn will get 25k if he’s a gold glover.
Blake-
Guiseppe = Joe
Not only will Martin be a godsend behind the plate but I have a feeling we’re going to see him hitting in the 2 spot pretty often.
MtU,
Oic. When is your guest post?
Blake-
I think ?
Maybe it’s George.
Heck I’m not Italian.
Somebody help me out here.
On Jones and Yankees.
http://www.myyesnetwork.com/12.....with_jones
“Not only will Martin be a godsend behind the plate but I have a feeling we’re going to see him hitting in the 2 spot pretty often.”
Really? Can’t see him anywhere but near the bottom with this group. I’d to see Gardner/Jeter as the 1-2, but I guess we’ll see.
Blake-
The idea is for the blog to be successful.
Lot of arb settlements the past couple days. Any word on the Yankees settling any of their’s?
K. Long on Jeter being a .300 hitter again and how changing hitting mechanics to “purchase time” to keep older hitters effective for longer.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....um=twitter
GreenBeret7 January 18th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
On Jones and Yankees.
http://www.myyesnetwork.com/12…..with_jones
+++++++++++++++
Does he have any late breaking news about who won WW2?
Mell January 18th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
“Not only will Martin be a godsend behind the plate but I have a feeling we’re going to see him hitting in the 2 spot pretty often.”
Really? Can’t see him anywhere but near the bottom with this group. I’d to see Gardner/Jeter as the 1-2, but I guess we’ll see.
————————
Not sure Girardi wants Jeter in the 2 spot – the reason he moved him out of there was the DP’s and I can’t see where that would have stopped being an issue.
When Gardner had time in the 2 spot he was very tentative on the bases – didn’t want to take the bat out of the hands of the thumpers.
Martin handles the bat well, can shoot the ball through the 1b hole, has good wheels – I think he would fit in there nicely.
pat January 18th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
K. Long on Jeter being a .300 hitter again and how changing hitting mechanics to “purchase time” to keep older hitters effective for longer.
++++++++++++++
Is “time” the new nickname for “steroids?”
Mell –
good timing – this just tweeted by Heyman:
SI_JonHeyman #yankees likely to work out contracts with hughes and logan. joba bit iffier on contract (and other things at moment)
Chip January 18th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Martin handles the bat well, can shoot the ball through the 1b hole, has good wheels – I think he would fit in there nicely.
+++++++++++++
Unfortunately, I think you are right…Until Jeter shows he can’t do it anymore, he will still get every chance to lead off
Nice article on Long and Jeter. Sounds good and I like the Molitor stuff. Jeter has a lot of pre-pitch movement as he’s loading up…he’s always been a kind of unconventional hitter but quietening some of that down could allow him to track the ball a little longer. Molitor was about as quite and simple as it got….textbook. This is good news and I hope it works out.
I think I would prefer
Gardner
Martin
Cano
ARod
Tex
Montero (DH) or Posada
Swisher
Granderson
Jeter
But it will be a while before we see that.
G Love-
That was you?! Nicely done
We’ll see how Martin or any other catcher does throwing out runners when the pitchers have no idea of how to hold or check runners. The only starters with any pickoffs were Sabathia, Burnett and Pettitte with 2 a piece. Rivera had 1.
Chip:
Wonder what Heyman means, when speaking about Joba, as iffy on “other things at the moment”? Will he be traded? Is he very out of shape? etc.
Gil Meche just retired rather than try and come back as a reliever this year.
Jeter won’t be batting 9th so why even suggest it?
coney1 January 18th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Chip:
Wonder what Heyman means, when speaking about Joba, as iffy on “other things at the moment”? Will he be traded? Is he very out of shape? etc.
—————-
My guess is that he meant his role with the team, whether he has a role with the team – they’re both very much up in the air right now.
I personally think he should be traded but I have no concept of what his trade value is right now.
You’re not getting an elite player for him – you’re not building a big package with him as the centerpiece – so what can you get? Some minor leaguers or another team’s former phenom like Alex Gordon?
Really too bad about Meche. He had a great arm…just couldn’t stay healthy.
The one time the Royals spend some money and Gil turned out to be a bust. Tough break for them
I don’t see how anyone can predict Joba is out of shape already.
I remember a dew years back when Brian Bruney was tubby, but he showed up to ST so slim that no one recognized him. (He then proceeded to steal Jeter’s glove and claim he was Rueben Rivera–who was subsequently traded. But that is another story…)
Joba too may surprise and come to camp in great shape…so Jeter better hide his stuff.
Chip January 18th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Gil Meche just retired rather than try and come back as a reliever this year.
+++++++++++++
There go my hopes for a title in my fantasy league….
Chip:
What about to the Astros as part of a package for Wandy Rodriguez?
It looks as if Scott Hairston is signing a minor league deal with the Mets.
ac1 January 18th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Jeter won’t be batting 9th so why even suggest it?
++++++++++++++
One can always dream…
fwiw, Jeter should benefit from never having bulked up. Not carrying extra weight should pay dividends as he gets older.
He’s never had a major injury, and he obviously takes his training very seriously.
There’s way too much pride there for him to backslide now.
Thanks for the compliments everyone. I was expecting to have my head lopped off when this posted after the first two pinch hitters were posted.
coney1 January 18th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Chip:
What about to the Astros as part of a package for Wandy Rodriguez?
——————
I would much rather have Brett Myers than Wandy Rodriguez but sure.
austinmac January 18th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
It looks as if Scott Hairston is signing a minor league deal with the Mets.
++++++++++++++
Alderson knows baseball…pretty smart pick-up IMO
GreenBeret7 January 18th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Really too bad about Meche. He had a great arm…just couldn’t stay healthy.
—————
The Royals will happily pocket the $12 mil he was owed this season.
G. Love
We may be a tough crowd, but we know good.
BoJo January 18th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
austinmac January 18th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
It looks as if Scott Hairston is signing a minor league deal with the Mets.
++++++++++++++
Alderson knows baseball…pretty smart pick-up IMO
——————-
More to the point, Alderson (and DePodesta) know the Padres – Chris Young yesterday; Scott Hairston today – one thing in common and that’s San Diego.
1. His personal issues are none of our business.
2. He’s already signed so he had no need to be that forthcoming, but he chose to be anyway.
3. His personal issues are none of our business.
4. The press just LOVES to stir the pot.
What’s the problem here, the meddling press wasn’t able to get the prurient details of Martin’s life so they are using their wounded pride to try to make this into something that it isn’t? I didn’t know that what happens in one venue automatically transfers to another.
The sports media, in general, can be a pathetic triveling little bunch of old women.
very amusing post G Love, thanks
whether you agree or disagree, it was funny
Players like Meche, Ben Sheets, and Brad Penny are why the Yankees do not seem to take chances on reclam projects who are coming directly off injury. Although sometimes, when they did (Jon Lieber). it paid off.
But I suspect more players like Dotel and the performance of those mentioned above are the reason their player acquisition strategy does not have reclamation projects as a major component.
trisha – true pinstriped blue January 18th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
1. His personal issues are none of our business.
2. He’s already signed so he had no need to be that forthcoming, but he chose to be anyway.
3. His personal issues are none of our business.
4. The press just LOVES to stir the pot.
+++++++++++++++
What was #5 going to be?
My guess:
5. His personal issues are none of our business.
Great guest post, G. Love.
But keep your hands off of Tito Calver!
I am so dense, and the Mets have been so NOT in the news, that when I picked up the Star Ledger (was that yesterday?) and I saw a headline about Chris Young but it said something about SD All-Star signing, and I wondered why in heck the Star Ledger cared that Chris Young was re-signing with the Padres (unless he was somehow from NJ – which I think he was, but that wasn’t the point).
“Really too bad about Meche. He had a great arm…just couldn’t stay healthy.”
It is too bad. He was fortunate to hit on a big pay day before getting injured. He was holding up his end of that Royals deal too, before the injuries took over.
With Hairston off the board, that leaves only Jones and Millage as RH OFers…
Cashman really should close this if he feels it completes the club..Someone else can swoop in at any moment.
I suspect that in 2-3 years, Alderson will have the Mets back in the play-offs. He has a great management team in place, and talent tells.
The Yankees haven’t been linked to Milledge at all, and I doubt he’s coming here, BoJo.
What about the other Hairston, Jerry, Jr.?
Jerry Hairston–reports I’ve seen are that he is past his prime…not any good in OF defense anymore..
I also agree with you Doreen on Millage…I was just pointing out that pickenings are getting very slim and scarce.
Nick,
You can have “tito calver” as long as I get to hug “austin romaine”.
s/b pickings
BoJo -
I think pickings have been slim all off-season.
I really would rather Jones wasn’t in the mix, either, but c’est la vie.
I don’t see the harm in going with someone like Christian or Laird in the beginning of the season. There’s always time to correct it if it doesn’t work out. And there might be others available. Maybe. I don’t know.
wonder what milwaukee had to give fielder to avoid arbitration.
Anyone ever go through a though divorce? A bad breakup? Anyone deal with extensive serious illness in the family? Did you do your best work during those times? If you say yes you are either a stone-cold liar or you were born without a soul.
There are lots of circumstances in peoples’ lives that can throw them totally off track. Witness Bernie Williams when his dad took sick, Josh Beckett when his parents were going through a divorce, Keith Foulke when his marriage broke up. Those are three that come immediately to mind. There was also a player in beantown who actually left the team in the middle of the season saying that due to personal problems he was unable to play. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON. (Beckett did not talk about his situation until the following season. Foulke did not talk about his marital situation at the time, but the information came out later. And not that I’m a fan of Jason Varitek, but anyone following his career the year his marriage broke up was certainly able to track the negative effect it had on his career during that time.)
So how about backing off players who say they had personal distractions and believe that they did.
Men, not machines.
BoJo January 18th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
With Hairston off the board, that leaves only Jones and Millage as RH OFers…
Cashman really should close this if he feels it completes the club..Someone else can swoop in at any moment.
——————
Reed Johnson’s out there too I think.
But he (and Milledge) are a different group than Jones.
Jones is in a group with guys like Thames and Glaus – guys who can play the field but are going to be on your bench more for the bat.
Milledge and Johnson are in a group with Kearns and Hairston – guys who can hit a little but are on your bench more for your glove.
That’s my long way of saying you can have Andruw Jones and Milledge or Johnson.
Too bad about Jerry Jr.
He made an overall good impression when he was here in 2009.
I wouldn’t mind hugging any of those prospects…but I would probably be branded a cougar
Reed Johnson isn’t out there anymore.
“What was #5 going to be?
My guess:
5. His personal issues are none of our business. ”
I bet you were good at the “guess the next number in the series” questions on tests!
Doreen January 18th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
The Yankees haven’t been linked to Milledge at all, and I doubt he’s coming here, BoJo.
What about the other Hairston, Jerry, Jr.?
—————-
I like Jerry but I think he’s going to want to go to an NL team where he will get more regular at bats than he would for the Yankees.
The Yankees do have a lot of internal options to play that utility IF role – they’ll probably start the season with Ramiro Pena and either call up Eduardo Nunez or make a deal midseason if they move Nunez in another transaction.
“What’s the problem here, the meddling press wasn’t able to get the prurient details of Martin’s life so they are using their wounded pride to try to make this into something that it isn’t?”
Martin was the one who brought it up. He doesn’t owe anyone a detailed explanation of what those issues were/are, but he set himself up for the questions by offering them up as an excuse for failure.
Chip January 18th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Not only will Martin be a godsend behind the plate but I have a feeling we’re going to see him hitting in the 2 spot pretty often
——————————————————–
lets see if Martin is healthy after missing the final two months because of a hip injury
Great Post Trisha !!
trisha – true pinstriped blue January 18th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
“What was #5 going to be?
My guess:
5. His personal issues are none of our business. ”
I bet you were good at the “guess the next number in the series” questions on tests!
++++++++++++++
Yep! 7!
Right?
Kate,
ac1 January 18th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
wonder what milwaukee had to give fielder to avoid arbitration
——————–
$15.5 mil (per Heyman)
Trisha -
While I agree with your post in general, I don’t think people who can do their job in the face of adversity are lying or without a soul.
We all deal differently. Some are able to lose themselves in their work and actually do their best work, some lose themselves, some just sleepwalk. We’re all wired differently.
SI_JonHeyman phil hughes agrees to $2.7 mil deal, avoiding arb with #yankees
SI_JonHeyman phil hughes agrees to $2.7 mil deal, avoiding arb with #yankees
___
Not bad for Mr. Phranchise. Overall he had a fantastic year last year.
BoJo January 18th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
G. Love January 18th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
That guest poster was brilliant this morning!
++++++++++++++
So far—you’re the only one who liked him.
////
No offense to anyone at all here,but I’d say that the guest post predictably impressed the people here who don’t really differentiate one “prospect” from another,because they don’t really make any effort/or aren’t able, to see them.
The spot is facile,the humor is tired (it’s all over the boards by people who relish the idea that prospects can never be actual MLB players,even though that’s what the majors are composed of),and it’s condescending in the extreme without any knowledge to back it up.All “style” (though borrowed, watered down style) and zero suspense.
SI_JonHeyman john danks got $6 mil from #chisox
$2.7 mil for Hughes and Joba OWES the Yankees his lunch money.
SI_JonHeyman jobagot $1.4 mil from #yankees
______
Wow. Not bad for a 6th inning guy
Can I have 2.7m too? Please?
Hughes settles: $2.7
Joba settles: $1.4
Courtesy of Heyman Twitter
Chamberlain got $1.4M
trisha -
It’s sad, but in the world we live in today, every reporter, regardless of the venue, acts as if work for some gossip, rag magazine, and need to know all the sorted details of others personal live.
I was really surprised how well the Yankees protected the whole Eiland leaving the team on personal business, and his eventual departure. Very unusual in these days and times. There were still the little old ladies on LoHud that wanted to know everything, but, I’m sure they wouldn’t be so free giving up all their personal business.
What part of personal do people not understand.
Good to see you here again.
Heyman must be cleaning out his inbox this afternoon.
I’d have thought Hughes would do a little better based on some numbers I’ve seen. Good for him either way.
G/J Love & All Blog Friends
Enjoyed your guest posting.
All of you might enjoy the attached article I posted earlier on All Time Best Homegrown vs. Acquired Yankee Talent
http://sullybaseball.blogspot......grown.html
martin is the one who brought these personal issues into play, using them as the reason for his decline.
i think alot of people on here are expecting russel martin of 2008 to show up, but im skeptical about that. as long as he’s very good behind the plate, ill be satisfied, but he’s got some coming back to do to get there.
Big Pelf got nearly 4 mil from the NY Mess.
Matt Garza and Chad Billingsley did pretty well for themselves too.
“martin is the one who brought these personal issues into play, using them as the reason for his decline.”
Exactly.
Martin means fewer passed balls, more runners thrown out & typically a decent OBP.
He fits their need for 2011. It’s one level above “meh”.
joba got half what phil got.
Mell January 18th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I’d have thought Hughes would do a little better based on some numbers I’ve seen. Good for him either way.
————–
Eh, only really has had 1 full year as a ML starter – I think the number was fair for both sides.
G. Love
As a prospect hugger myself, I actually liked your post. I do root for the minor leaguers though because I have season tickets to the Tampa Yankees so I have no problem rooting for them. I am aware that maybe 1 or 2 of the guys I saw play last season will make it in any capacity in the major leagues even if its as a late September call up and then we never hear of them again.
If Betances or Banuelos get traded away, Ill keep an eye on them wherever they go. If they make it with that team then ill root for them because I saw them play when they were here in Tampa. I never saw Montero, just heard about him so im not as attached.
besides that I did like your post. Just dont hate too much on us minor league lovers. especially the ones that have actually seen them play.
Good for Phil Hughes!
I always think it’s got to be a good thing to avoid arbitration.
Wow – this puts a lot in perspective.
Joba got 1.4 and BOONE LOGAN got 1.2.
joba got half what phil got.
____
Also contributed about half as much.
“Martin was the one who brought it up. He doesn’t owe anyone a detailed explanation of what those issues were/are, but he set himself up for the questions by offering them up as an excuse for failure.”
If you read the interview, there is nothing telling us that Martin is the one who brought it up. In fact, reading the very first sentence certainly sounds more like it was a question posed by the interviewer.
Doreen – I said “do their best work”. I stand by that. Doing their job is another level entirely.
Joba settled, too???
Yay. A good news day.
Are the yankees taking anyone to arbitration?
Hughes, Joba and Logan are settled.
Assume Gardner would too no?
I meant zero substance,but suspense applies too.
J. Alfred Prufrock January 18th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
The spot is facile,the humor is tired (it’s all over the boards by people who relish the idea that prospects can never be actual MLB players,even though that’s what the majors are composed of),and it’s condescending in the extreme without any knowledge to back it up.All “style” (though borrowed, watered down style) and zero suspense.
+++++++++++++++
Wow! But aside from that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
Is Fielder’s $15.5M arbitration agreement the highest agreed to amount or was someone higher?
Didn’t Howard agree to 18 M one year?
ac1 January 18th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Are the yankees taking anyone to arbitration?
Hughes, Joba and Logan are settled.
Assume Gardner would too no?
—————-
I don’t believe Gardner’s up for arbitration.
I think those three and Sergio Mitre were the only guys up for it.
“martin is the one who brought these personal issues into play, using them as the reason for his decline.”
read above. He was likely asked about it in the interview he gave, as I am sure it was like the 500 lb. gorilla sitting in the middle of the room. I truly doubt that he brought it up, since an easier interview would have been fluff about how he felt about playing for the Yankees. Interviewers don’t typically go for that kind of story when there is something more juicy to probe.
So,
Hughes: 2.7
Joba: 1.4
Logan: 1.2
That’s 5.3 million….was there anyone else?
ac1 January 18th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Didn’t Howard agree to 18 M one year?
————-
No. Tim Lincecum was seeking $13 mil last year and that would have been the highest ever.
“Matt Garza and Chad Billingsley did pretty well for themselves too”
2nd year arb guys (Garza, Danks, Nillingsley) all ended up around $6M. Guess that’s an indication of where Hughes ends up next year, though his arb 1 settlement is somewhat lower than all three of those guys got in their arb 1 (Garza $3.35M, Danks $3.45M, Billingsley $3.85M). Guess the bullpen time stunted Hughes number a little. He ends up settling for the same money as John Lannan.
SI_JonHeyman choo got $3.975 mil from #indians
__
how long until this guy hits the market?
or should I say, better fodder with which to grill the interviewee.
blake January 18th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
So,
Hughes: 2.7
Joba: 1.4
Logan: 1.2
That’s 5.3 million….was there anyone else?
—————–
I don’t think so. To me though it’s fascinating that Joba and Logan were considered of almost equal value to the Yankees.
Maybe I’m reading too much into it but it sure seems to me like a telling sign of what they think Joba’s future will be (if any)
J AL
Obviously all prospects are not the same. I think it is insulting to think most of us don’t have any idea who they are, or don’t see any value in them…of course we do. And of course we know everyone is a prospect at the beginning of their career.
G Love was just trying to provide a bit of humor. I thought he was quite funny, it doesn’t mean I agree w/ everything he said.
ryan howard made 15 mil in 2009.
Mell January 18th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
“Matt Garza and Chad Billingsley did pretty well for themselves too”
2nd year arb guys (Garza, Danks, Nillingsley) all ended up around $6M. Guess that’s an indication of where Hughes ends up next year, though his arb 1 settlement is somewhat lower than all three of those guys got in their arb 1 (Garza $3.35M, Danks $3.45M, Billingsley $3.85M). Guess the bullpen time stunted Hughes number a little. He ends up settling for the same money as John Lannan.
—————–
Would like to see the two sides come together on a contract that takes these arbitration years off the table.
ac1 January 18th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
SI_JonHeyman choo got $3.975 mil from #indians
__
how long until this guy hits the market?
—————-
My guess – 7 years.
I think the Indians lock him up long term using the CarGo deal as a guide.
Ryan Howard may not have set the record in arbitration, but how’s this for a raise?:
He earned $900K in 2007, and then was awarded $10M in arbitration in 2008.
Not too shabby.
Would like to see the two sides come together on a contract that takes these arbitration years off the table.
__
My guess is they want to see one more full year of health before doing that.
My guess – 7 years.
I think the Indians lock him up long term using the CarGo deal as a guide.
___
I dont agree. I say he knows a good team will get him. The Rockies have a good team which is why they were able to lock up their players. Indians not so much. I think Choo hits FA and the Yankees and Sox will both be paying attention.
Chip -
Who is “CarGo?”
Hoping cashman realizes that after CC, the rotation needs a solid #2 (not a runny one) because inserting a millwood or another mediocre starter wont cut it..
12 mil for Paps? Has Boston reached 200 M yet?
And Paplebon gets $12M in deal to avoid arb…
“Would like to see the two sides come together on a contract that takes these arbitration years off the table.”
If Hughes puts forth a year similar to his ’10 season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them get into that next offseason. He’s got to at least show ‘em twice before going long term, IMO.
wow! if martin had come up as a yankee and had the same career with ny that he had with the dodgers, then left town and said his performance dipped because of personal issues, i cant imagine how he would be shredded by people in ny.
tyanksfan,
I’m not hating on you. No worries. I enjoy reading about the prospects.
I just think over the past few years there has been so much hype for some of the prospects on the internet and the blogs that Yankees fans, like myself, who have never seen any of them play are calling them “untouchable”. It’s a bit ridiculous calling a player untouchable who you’ve never seen play before.
There was so much time spent on Melancon in this blog in recent years. How he would take Joba’s spot in the pen so Joba could start. Then Melancon got here, struggled and was the talent we sent in a salary dump trade where you give up marginal talent.
I think the internet hype affects fans and I think it also affects GM’s to some extent.
That said, while I would have traded Montero and all the others for Lee last year, I’m very happy we have Montero this season and beyond (if he’s not dealt). I want to see him hit in the Bronx.
My point was let’s keep the great one’s and use the others to make the team better now.
If Cashman can find a good starting pitcher he has to be reasonable and let some talent go.
Getting Knobby was my key example. Milton and Guzman turned out to be good MLB players. It’s not the end of the world if the players we deal turn out to be good for the other team.
It would do more for the Yankees reputation in trades if our prospects did well when they were traded instead of flaming out.
The Granderson trade is a prime example of that too. Kennedy, Coke and Jackson all look like they will help their respective teams while we got a CF who by the end of the season justified the cost. If Curtis hits this year like he did from August on, that’s a great trade for all parties involved.
With Scott Boras as his agent and him becoming available after 2013 (3 more years), I suspect Choo might NOT sign an extension with Cleveland.
Doreen -
Carlos Gonzalez – OF Colorado Rockies.
dont agree. I say he knows a good team will get him. The Rockies have a good team which is why they were able to lock up their players. Indians not so much. I think Choo hits FA and the Yankees and Sox will both be paying attention.
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Isn’t Choo repped by Boras? If so, he DEF hits FA
Doreen, I didn’t see your reference to “best work”. Okay we will agree to disagree on that one. People with serious distractions don’t generally have the clarity to put forward the very best they have.
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Big Al, I cannot agree with you more. I don’t even know what “serious journalism” is anymore, if it even exists. Well okay, I’m sure it does, but I’d say that the mainstream media has no interest in that because it doesn’t “sell”. There is some sense of entitlement that I see everywhere in life and here is no exception. Unless some people get all of the gory details all the time – whether or not they really have the right to it or need it – they stomp their heels like spoiled brats. I go in the other direction. I don’t need to be bogged down in superfluous information or information that really deserves protection, for whatever variety of reasons.
Chip- I believe Romulo Sanchez is the only arb eligible player left.
http://www.rotoworld.com/conte.....ajteam=NYY
Doreen CarGo is Carlos Gonzalez , LF’er for the Rockies
upstate kate January 18th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
J AL
Obviously all prospects are not the same. I think it is insulting to think most of us don’t have any idea who they are, or don’t see any value in them…of course we do. And of course we know everyone is a prospect at the beginning of their career.
G Love was just trying to provide a bit of humor. I thought he was quite funny, it doesn’t mean I agree w/ everything he said.
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Well I agree with the first part of your post, in fact, that was my complaint: that the writer doesn’t think the yankee fan,who is clearly the object of his derision, doesn’t know who they are,can’t differentiate one from the other,because that fan just thinks, like some idiot, that they are all going to succeed.you liked it,that’s swell.different strokes as they say. I was giving my own take on it.
Mike – thanks!
Now that Joba got his measly 1.4 relief pitcher money, can we make him a starter, Cash?
BTW,I didn’t “know” who the writer even was when I posted my response.I hadn’t read through the comment section here,so sorry if I hurt any feelings,just giving my honest response to that piece.
Thanks, Chip & Yankee Trader.
I didn’t know he had a nickname!
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yankfem – that would be nice.not too long now to see how this plays out.
At least it’s not C-Gon.
Trader–Sanchez is not available for arb until 2013…the Yankee arb cases are all wrapped up.
supposedly,mike francesa opened his show today talking about two Giants safeties.I realize the Jets have boycotted his station (which I think is unprofessional) but nothing like ignoring the biggest NY sports story.he’s a clown.
Waiting for someone to suggest the Yankees could have signed ten Boone Logan’s for the price of one Soriano.
J. Alfred Prufrock,
I have a thick skin. I get notes from Hollywood execs. You hardly hurt my feelings.
Part of my point was everyone just needs to calm down with the hype. Sometimes, I think it’s not fair to the players.
Like Montero for instance. If he doesn’t hit 500 foot bombs in his first 50 at bats, I can see some people thinking he’s a bust due to the hype he already has.
And I was speaking more to the Yankee fans, like myself, who hasn’t seen any of these guys play a full game, yet we flip out over including them in trades.
“I don’t even know what “serious journalism” is anymore”
such is obvious.
by any standard, a ‘serious’ journalist would ask russel martin what he thought caused his numbers to drop off as they have the last 2 years.
so martin while being interviewed offers that he was distracted by personal issues and says he didnt train as hard as he had.
and by any standard, any serious journalist, having heard this reply, would have to ask what the nature of the personal issues was. as long as the journalist allows that the player has a right to keep that private, he is doing his job.
J. Alfred Prufrock January 18th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
supposedly,mike francesa opened his show today talking about two Giants safeties.I realize the Jets have boycotted his station (which I think is unprofessional) but nothing like ignoring the biggest NY sports story.he’s a clown.
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Jets didn’t boycott the station – just his show because he goes head to head with ESPN 1050′s two NY based shows and 1050 is the radio home of the Jets so if Jets are going to be on the radio between 1 and 7 ESPN wants them on their station.
Really has nothing to do with Francesa other than that he’s got better ratings than 1050.
But you’re right – he should have opened by talking about the Jets – unless Phillips and Rolle did something that transcends sports and must be headline news.
“unless Phillips and Rolle did something that transcends sports and must be headline news”
I think Rolle may have come pretty close to saying he’d rather play for Rexydog rather than Coughlin.
With his agreement finalized, Phil Hughes will be one of the early arrivals at the minor league complex.
G. Love January 18th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
J. Alfred Prufrock,
I have a thick skin. I get notes from Hollywood execs. You hardly hurt my feelings.
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good for you.a think skin is a good thing to have when you have an intelligent audience
He opened discussing Giants’ safeties. Ugh. I neither watch him nor read Lupica for a reason.
G Love–
The most interesting thing about your topic IMO is that in the last 15 years, the Yankees have rarely traded away a Jose Rijo or Doug Drabek or Jay Buhner.
Their scouts seem to do a very good job of assessing their own talent, building them up, and either promoting or trading them.
Thus, when I hear they are considering trading Montero, I don’t get too upset, because I figure they value him differently that we do for a reason (that he can’t catch and his value as a pure DH is limited). Or when they say Joba is only a reliever, they must have some concerns about something.
I pretty much trust that they have better inside info that we do.
Mell January 18th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
“unless Phillips and Rolle did something that transcends sports and must be headline news”
I think Rolle may have come pretty close to saying he’d rather play for Rexydog rather than Coughlin.
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Well that’s not well thought out at all.
Chip-
“Waiting for someone to suggest the Yankees could have signed ten Boone Logan’s for the price of one Soriano.”
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Not suggesting it but they could have signed Joaquin Benoit and lefty Scott Downs and maybe 1/2 of Logan for the Price of Soriano and Feliciano!!
G. Love
I tend to only have attachments to the guys I’ve actually seen play and I’m very fortunate that I have to opportunity to see them even if its just high A
And can I tell you that I never once heard the words “heir apparent” or “top prospect status” being said about anyone at the games I went to. And the people I sat around went to all the games so they were more than just the casual observer. The people just go to enjoy the games which is how I think it should be. The only player I saw that made me open my eyes and pay more attention to was Betances. The guy struck out 5 in a row.
Just read Rolle’s comments – personally if you would rather be known for trash talking than winning I don’t really want you on my team. Coughlin has gotten his team a superbowl win without trash talking.
Yankee Trader January 18th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Chip-
“Waiting for someone to suggest the Yankees could have signed ten Boone Logan’s for the price of one Soriano.”
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Not suggesting it but they could have signed Joaquin Benoit and lefty Scott Downs and maybe 1/2 of Logan for the Price of Soriano and Feliciano!!
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I’m hoping that was said in jest and you weren’t really suggesting that the Yankees would be better off with a 35 year old Downs and a flash in the pan Benoit than with Soriano right?
Chip January 18th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
J. Alfred Prufrock January 18th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
supposedly,mike francesa opened his show today talking about two Giants safeties.I realize the Jets have boycotted his station (which I think is unprofessional) but nothing like ignoring the biggest NY sports story.he’s a clown.
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Jets didn’t boycott the station – just his show because he goes head to head with ESPN 1050?s two NY based shows and 1050 is the radio home of the Jets so if Jets are going to be on the radio between 1 and 7 ESPN wants them on their station.
Really has nothing to do with Francesa other than that he’s got better ratings than 1050.
But you’re right – he should have opened by talking about the Jets – unless Phillips and Rolle did something that transcends sports and must be headline news.
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Oh, I see, thanks for clarifying.that’s pretty silly on the jets’ part, though even so. So don’t give him mangold & bigmouth bart scott or the more scholarly revis,send them the punter Weatherford (who was awful against New England) or someone from the team,let the stars talk to ESPN & they’ll win that competition any way. The Jets are one of two NFL teams,it’s childish to shut out francesa’s show entirely.
Bojo,
I looked at all the trades we’ve made in that time period and I rarely saw a trade we lost.
We traded a young Marte for Enrique Wilson. That was pretty much the worst one.
Otherwise the best players we gave up were Milton, Guzman, Lowell, Westbrook, Lilly types.
I’m surprised the Yankee fans aren’t more angry about that Mike Lowell trade as he would have perfectly replaced Brosius who retired the season after we dealt Mike Lowell.
Lowell also would have blocked the Arod deal from ever happening. It’s interesting when you look at all the deals.
And I only focused on the prospects I could get Baseball America rankings on. It’s pretty crazy how many of the names we saw as top prospects didn’t work out. They were not even mentioning Cano’s name in many of those lists they put out for the Yankees.
Guys like Cano and Gardner were slept on by the “experts”. Same with David Robertsen. He rarely was mentioned in the top prospect list.
“Well that’s not well thought out at all.”
I don’t think he said it outright, but he contrasted Coughlin’s rigidness and tightly run ship to Rexy’s more loosey goosey, loudmouthed, have fun and don’t worry about your DUI’s or paying child support style.
*the Jets are one of two NEW YORK NFL teams…
It isn’t the trading of prospects that I object to, it’s the quality and quantity above what others are paying for the same player. With what Seattle ask for from NY to what they received from Texas for Lee was absurd. It was the same with the Greinke deal. when the asking price is beyond stupid, slam the receiver down.
“Just read Rolle’s comments – personally if you would rather be known for trash talking than winning I don’t really want you on my team. Coughlin has gotten his team a superbowl win without trash talking”
Agreed. A week from now Tom Coughlin will still be a Superbowl winner while Ryan may be the face of the organization that has missed the Superbowl for the 42nd consecutive year.
“and by any standard, any serious journalist, having heard this reply, would have to ask what the nature of the personal issues was. as long as the journalist allows that the player has a right to keep that private, he is doing his job.”
You are making an assumption that the person who wrote the story was a serious journalist. Giving that a pass, a read of the story lets you know that Martin headed it off at the pass by saying he chose to keep it personal. But that wasn’t good enough for some said west coast lightweight who apparently voiced skepticism.
However, we’re veering off the path here since my original premise was not that the press did not have the right to ask, but rather that “the meddling press wasn’t able to get the prurient details of Martin’s life so they are using their wounded pride to try to make this into something that it isn’t.”
And that came from Sam’s saying: “Now, since Martin wouldn’t specify what those issues were (or even give any kind of general category – family health, for example), it’s hard to know how legitimate an explanation that is. And, as we see here, there is at least one writer in Los Angeles (Martin’s former home) who is skeptical about Martin so simply explaining away his lack of production for the Dodgers.”
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J. Alfred – if you want to see some gorgeous photos of the Jets-Pats game, go here. You will especially enjoy the first one in the group, I am sure!
http://www.boston.com/sports/f.....ff_photos/
trisha – true pinstriped blue January 18th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
J. Alfred – if you want to see some gorgeous photos of the Jets-Pats game, go here. You will especially enjoy the first one in the group, I am sure!
http://www.boston.com/sports/f…..ff_photos/
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lol. How are my “peeps” in Little Rhody doing two days later.
J. Alfred – if you want to see some gorgeous photos of the Jets-Pats game, go here. You will especially enjoy the first one in the group, I am sure!
http://www.boston.com/sports/f…..ff_photos/
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Well LMAO Trisha, thanks for that!this has been a glorious couple of days, I’ll tell ya.I thought your party story (fake rooting for the Pats) was a hoot,btw
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J. Al and feminista – it has truly been lovely. It’s the kind of quiet here that can only be appreciated by someone who is in love with the cause. Beautiful snow on the ground, more gently falling right now, that still beauty of winter now unburdened by garish signs on the side of every storefront and gas station saying “GO PATS!”